Health scale



Smpnfi.. 1% 1935.

HHHHHHHHHH E' eeeeeeeeeeeee l' INVENTOR Sept 1935. K. E. BARRETT 9 3HEALTH SCALE Filed Aug. 3, 1951 4 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR KAR E. 'ARRETrWWW ATTOR`NEY Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'HEALTH SCALE Application August 3, 1931, Serial No. 554,783

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in health scales, particularly tothat type of scale in which the operative mechanism is mounted andsuspended entirely as a unit within the casing.

In health scales in general use it has generally been the practice tomount the movable parts of the scale mechanism either on the walls ofthe casing or on the base of the scale with certain operating partsextending through the upper plate or top of the scale to the dial.According to this method the parts' are necessarily assembled separatelyand not as a unit, so that since the parts are independently mounted, itis usually necessary in order to make adjustments or to facilitate themaking of repairs, to disconnect some of the parts from the casingWalls, the base and the dial. It is the purpose of my invention toOvercome these dis'advantages and provide means that will enable thescale mechanism to be readily assembled and unassembled when desired, aswell as to render it accessible. Therefore, one of the important objectsof the invention is to provide a frame unit for assembling and carryingthereon the entire weighing and operating mechanism of the scale.

Another object is to provide means for Suspending the unit entirely fromthe top plate of the scale casing, thereby rendering the entireoperating mechanism readily accessible.

Another object is to provide means integral with the unit for operatingand carrying the dial pointer or indicator.

Another object is to mount the scale platform on spiral Springs disposedin a Vertical frame attached to the assembling unit and provided withco-operating means for actuating the dial indicator.

Another object is to provide each spiral spring with a sealing ring foradjusting the tension of the spring.

In order that the nature of my invention may be fully understood, I haveillustrated certain embodiments of the invention in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the scale.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the scale, showing the operatingand weighing mechanism unit in its Suspended position and embodying apreferred form of my invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing especiallythe platform and the spi'al springs, on which the platform is mounted,together With the cooperating check levers, but omitting the main frameunit.

Figure 5 is a plan of a portion of the dial show- 'ng the graduationsand numerals.

Figure 6 is a Vertical elevation of the sealing ring.

In the drawings I designates the scale casing, 5 the upper plate 2 ofWhich is provided With a circular dial opening 3 and a mounting portion4 for the scale mechanism.

Dependng from the upper plate 4 are a plurality of spaced bosses 5, onWhich is fastened a main 10 frame unit 5 adapted to serve as anassembling unit for the entire operating mechanism.

The main frame 6 is provided with an integral, laterally extendingtriangular bracket 'l having at its peak 8 a cross plate 9, on which areupwardly extending spaced bosses IO and I l the center boss I l beingprovided at its top |2 with an opening l3, through which eXtends aVertical pivot pin |4 carrying a pinion l 5 and mounted in the boss I l'On the top l2 is horizontally mounted a circular dial holder 95,supported by a detachable arm ll Secured to the casing l, in which dialholder IB is disposed a suitable dial |8 covered by a conveX or crowneddial glass IS, the whole being mounted in the dial opening 3. Within thedial holder IS and co-operating with graduations 20 on the face of thedial |8 is an indicator or pointer ZI, which is mounted on the pivot pinl4. Extending transversely of the dial holder |6 and mounted on thespaced bosses HI is a fiat bar 22, secured by bolts 23 to the rim of thedial opening 3, and to which the dial holder IB and the dial IB arefastened by bolts 24 passing through coinciding openings therein and anopening in the upper end of each boss lt, whereby the dial holder IB anddial |8 are held securely in position on the main frame B.

The platform 25 is mounted on a U-shaped, movable platform frame 26, theupstanding arms 21 and 28 of which are fastened to the under side of theplatform. The platform frame 26 is Vertically mounted in the main frame6 passing through a rectangular opening 29 in the upper casing plate 4and a rectangular opening 30 in the main frame 6. Mounted on spacedadjustable bolts 3! on the base plate 32 of the platform frame 26provided vvith set screws 3 Ia are vertically disposed spiral springs 33having their upper ends 34 inserted in openings 35 at the ends of ahorizontally disposed yoke 36.

Inserted in each spiral spring 33 is a sealing 50 ring 31 (Fig. 6)having a tubular center portion 38 provided with a threaded opening 39,in which the threaded upper end of the pin 3I is adapted to enter. Thesealing ring 31 is provided also with a split flange 4!! having abeveled guide 55 portion 4| and a downward beveled pointed guide portion42 adapted to enter and pass between adjacent spirals, whereby undercontrol of the movable pin 3l the sealing ring 31 may be turned andadjusted to the proper position in order to equalize the tension of thespiral springs 33.

Pivotally mounted in a boss 43 on the main frame 6 is an adjustabletension arm 44 provided at its inner end with a concaved arcuate portion45, adapted to engage the knife edge bearing rim 46 of an opening 41 inthe center of the yoke 36 and having its upturned outer end 48 inengagement with an adjusting thumb screw 49 inserted in a recessedportion 50 formed in the casing l. By adjusting the thumb screw 49, thetension of the springs 33 and consequently the position of the pointer2| with relation to the zero graduation on the dial may be varied as maybe necessary to bring the pointer to the zero graduation.

Check screws 2'Ia and 28a serve to limit the upward movement of theplatform frame 26 by engaging the lower portion of the main frame 6, incase the scale should be lifted by the platform 25.

In order to prevent rocking of the platform 25 and to guide and maintainthe movable platform 26 in its Vertical movement two pairs of spacedcheck or guide links 5! and 52 are mounted at each end of the platformframe 26, one end of each upper link 5l being pivoted to a boss 53 onthe main frame 6 and the other end to the cooperating arm 21 or 28respectively of the platform frame 26, while one end of each lower link52 is pivoted to a boss 54 depending from the main frame 6 and the otherend to one side of the base plate 32 of the platform frame 26. Likewisea spaced pair of check links 55 and 56 are disposed longitudinally ofthe inner side of the platform frame 26, the upper link 55 having oneend pivoted on the upper end of the arm 28 of the frame 26 and the otherend pivoted to a laterally extending boss on the main frame 6, while oneend of the lower link 56 is pivoted on the base plate 32 and the otherend is pivoted on a curved cross bar 58 integral with the main frame 6.

Therefore, by this arrangement the opposed guide links 5I, 52 and 55, 56serve to automatically compensate for any unequal load stresses and toconstantly guide and maintain the platform frame 26 and the platform 25in a perpendicular position.

Pivotally mounted on the curved cross bar 58, which is integral with themain frame 6 and disposed at right angles to the cross plate 9, is abell crank lever 59 having at the end of its lower arm 60 a circularportion 6! adapted to freely engage and co-operate with a hooked member62 centrally disposed in the base plate 32 of the platform frame 26 andintegral therewith. The upper arm 63 of the bell crank lever 59 ispivotally connected at its free end to a horizontal bar 64 provided onone edge with a toothed rack 65 adapted to engage the pinion |5 andthereby move the pointer 2I, when the bar 64 is moved, while a spiralspring 66 serves to hold the toothed rack 65 in engagement with thepinion 15.

By this arrangement the load on the platform causes the platform topress down upon and to actuate the platform frame 26 carrying with itthe Vertical spiral springs 33 under tension by reason of their fixedattachment to the yoke 36, the tension varying in proportion to theload.

As the platform frame 26 descends the hooked member 62 rocks the bellcrank lever 59, thereby of the casing. These novel features enable themovable parts of the operating mechanism to be more readily, accessibly,and efficiently mounted, than would be the case in similar scales ingeneral use, in which these movable parts are often Secured to the Wallsor base of the casing. Moreover, the suspension of the entire operatingmechanism renders it perfectly accessible for adjustment or repairwithout the necessity of removing the casing or detaching any of theoperating parts therefrom while this arrangement permits lighterconstruction by dispensing with a relatively heavy base and casing.

While I have shown a p'eferred embodiment of my invention it is evidentthat modifications of the invention may be made that will come withinthe scope of the invention and I do not desire, therefore, to be limitedto the exact form of construction shown and described herein.

I claim:

1. In a weighing scale, the combination with a casing, of a platformmounted on a movable platform frame, adjusting bolts carried by the saidplatform frame, spaced spiral Springs mounted on the said adjustingbolts, a main frame unit depending from the top of the said casing,within which the platform frame is disposed and adapted to carry theentire Weighing mechanism, and a yoke provided With a central openinghaving its upper edge beveled, forming thereby a knife edge bearing, andhaving an opening at each end in Which the upper end of one of the saidspiral springs is inserted and a pivotally mounted tension arm having anarcuate end portion adapted to engage and co-operate with the said knifeedge bearing.

2. In a weighing scale, the combination with a casing, of a platformmounted on a movable platform frame, adjusting bolts carred by the saidplatform frame, spaced spiral springs mounted on the said adjustingbolts, a main frame unit depending from the top of the said casing,within which the platform frame is disposed and adapted to carry theentire weighing mechanism,

a yol-:e provided with a central opening having its i upper edgebeveled, forming thereby a knife edge bearing, and having an opening ateach end in which the upper end of one of the said spiral springs isinserted, a pivotally mounted tension arm attached to the frame unit andprovided at its inner end with a concaved arcuate portion adapted toengage the said knife edge bearing,`

an upturned outer end on the said tension arm disposed in engagementwith an adjusting screw,

whereby the tension of both spiral Springs may be simultaneouslyadjusted and consequently the position of the said indicator varied andadjusted.

3. In a weighng scale, the combination with a casing, of a platformmounted on a movable platform frame, adjusting bolts carried by the saidplatform frame, spaced spiral Springs mounted on the said adjustingbolts, a main frame unit depending from the top of the said casing,within which the platform frame is disposed and adapted to carry theentire weighing mechanism,

a pivotally mounted yoke disposed in the said platform frame and havingthe upper end of each spiral spring connected thereto, and a sealingring inserted in each spiral spring adapted to adjust the tension of thesaid spring, comprising a tubular center portion having its openingthreaded to receive one of the said threaded adjusting bolts andprovided with a split flange having an upwardly beveied guide portionand a downwardly extending beveled guide portion, each adapted to passbetween adjacent spira1s of the spring and under control of the saidrespective adjusting bolts and to be turned to the proper position.

4. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a casing, of a inovableplatform frame supporting a platform, a detachably mounted main frameunit depending from the top of the said casing within Which the platformframe is disposed and adapted to carry the said movable platform frame,platform and the entire weighing mechanism, an extension bracketintegral with the said main frame unit and carrying a dial and operatingmechanism for an indicator co-operating with the said dial, a pivotallymounted intermediate beli cranlr lever disposed between the indicatoroperating mechanism and the platform frame and provided with an upwardlyeX- tending upper arm and having at the end of its lower arm a circuiarportion, and a hooked end operating member located in the base plate ofthe platform frame, integral therewith and interfitting and co-actingwith the circular portion of the lower arm of the said peli crank leverin causing the said lever under iniiuence of the load to operate thedial indcator.

5. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a casing, a platformmounted therein on a movable platform frame, a main frame unit dependingfrom the top of the said casing, within Which the platform frame isdisposed and adapted to carry the entire weighing mechanism, a cross barcarried by the said main frame unit, and means for preventing rocking ofthe platform as Well as for guiding the said platform frame, comprisingpivotaliy mounted, spaced side check links connected respectiveiy to theupper ends of the side arms of the platform frame and its base piate, tothe main frame unit, as Well as longitudinaily spaced check linkspivotally attached re ctively to the upper end of one of the side a nsof the platform frame and the lower longitudinal check: link to one endof the base plate of the U-haped platform frame and the cross bar of themain frame unit.

KARL E. BARRETT.

